<p>Agree with the “Lou”, and follow the incredible scent to Garrett’s popcorn, wherever you are. There’s one on Michigan Ave, but I am sure there are others. Worth waiting on line! My favorite place in Chicago is the Tribune Building, embedded with pieces of famous structures that I’ll probably never get to see. How I envy you–Chicago in the summer!</p>
<p>Second the Tribune building and both Lou and Giordano’s. We also went to a place called Gio’s that was an old speakeasy, which we loved the historic appeal of it. We stayed at The Blackstone, which was a Renaissance Marriott, and had a gorgeous view of the fountain, Lake Michigan. It’s right next to the Hilton. It’s a historic hotel, much like the old Fairmont/Roosevelt in New Orleans. Scenes from the Untouchables were filmed there. We stayed on the Club level floor and had a great “free” breakfast every morning, plus snacks and soda during the day. </p>
<p>The boat tour we took went out into Lake Michigan as well. Gorgeous. We walked to the Wrigley building, the Tribune building, and down Michigan Avenue. There were art vendors set up on Michigan Avenue, and advertisers giving away free products, like ice cream bars! </p>
<p>We also went to a former library that had a Tiffany stained glass dome. An acquaintance of husband who used to live in Chicago told us about it. It was across the street on Michigan Avenue, near the Bean and the Face Fountain.</p>
<p>We did the late hours at Art Institute after the Sears Tower, and I agree, a must see. Plan to go back there and spend the week. But if you have short time, make sure to see American Gothic and Nighthawks, which were right next to each other when we were there.</p>
<p>
I love that stuff, especially the Chicago Mix. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s the Chicago Cultural Center, where the Chicago Greeter tours originate.</p>
<p>[City</a> of Chicago :: Chicago Cultural Center](<a href=“http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_culturalcenter.html]City”>City of Chicago :: Chicago Cultural Center)</p>
<p>My sister did a girl’s trip to Chicago this spring. They really enjoyed Second City and the river boat architecture tour. They also had a blast doing a segway tour!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s a weekend-specific pass. For $10 you can get an unlimited one-day pass; for $20 you can get an unlimited 3-day pass, good on all CTA trains and buses, available at Jewel and Dominick’s food stores, or at CVS or Walgreen’s pharmacies. </p>
<p>If you’re going to do a lot of riding of buses and El trains, a $20 pass might be worth it, but you’d need a separate pass for each person. </p>
<p>Another option is to just buy an ordinary CTA transit card that you can share–you can do up to 7 swipes (for up to 7 passengers) at once. These are available at machines at every CTA train station. If you bought just one $30 transit card for yourself and your spouse, for example, it would deduct $4.50 (=$2.25 X 2) for both of you to take a train from your hotel downtown, then $2 per person per bus trip. But it’s less expensive if you keep moving: the first transfer within 2 hours is 25 cents, the second transfer (again within 2 hours of the initial fare) is free. It’s easy enough to add money to the transit card at any CTA rail station if you find you’re using up your $30 and need more, but if you end up not using a lot of buses or trains, $30 might easily cover both of you for the weekend. Which is more economical depends on how much you actually use the buses and trains.</p>
<p>I get to Chicago frequently enough that I usually just carry a CTA transit card in my wallet.</p>
<p>I’ve seen people kayaking on the Chicago River. No idea where they got the kayaks, but it looked like fun.</p>